Health Minister clarifies after hue & cry over Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin

It’s known that, after Oxford’s Covishied, Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin has received approval from Indian agencies as a vaccine candidate against coronavirus. There has been much criticism over Covaxin getting approval since its phase 3 clinical trials are yet to be completed. In this regard, Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan has put the record straight. He said that the Covaxin will be in its clinical trial phase, unlike Covishied.

“For those spreading rumours, let it be known that EUA for COVAXIN is differently conditional – in clinical trial mode. EUA for COVAXIN is different from COVISHIELD because its use will be in clinical trial mode. All COVAXIN recipients to be tracked, monitored as if they are in trial,” the Health Minister clarified. He added that this approval ensures India has an additional vaccine shield in its arsenal, especially against potential mutant strains in a dynamic pandemic situation.

Speaking to a national media house, ICMR chief Balram Bhargava has expressed confidence that Covaxin will prove to be better against the UK strain of Covid. If true, it will be phenomenal.

However, Covaxin getting the approval is still a bone of contention for many. Dr Sumaiya Shaikh, a Neuroscientist consultant, wrote, “Dr Harsh Vardhan, kindly do not diss our relevant questions as rumours. It will only hurt the ongoing anti-vaccine sentiment. How is it possible to determine the safety/efficacy of COVAXIN in 22,000 people today when the preprint on 22 Dec reported 380 people’s safety data?”